¶ The abbreviation of all general councils holden in Grecia, Germania, Italia, and Gallia/ compiled by Iohn le mayor de belges, most excellent Hystoryograffer to king Louis the twelve of late french king dedicated to the said king Louis. Anno dni .1519.  
¶ Translated by Iohn gowgh the printer hereof, by the kings gracious Privilege, for vii years ensuing, dwelling in Lumbarstrete against the stocks market.   

¶ The prologue of the translator Iohn gowgh, unto all christian readers.  
WHere as it is due and expedient for all christian people, to have the perfit knowledge and purity of christian ly●yng which ought to be in the catholic Church militant here in earth. In the which Church hath been great abuses by the ministers & heads thereof, to whom we have given great confidence, and specially to their profane ceremonies, decres, traditions, fantasies, and dreams, engendered and spionge up by the usurped head thereof, very Antecrystes bishops of Rome, which many years hath been called pope's as in this present little book is evidently to be red & seen, usurping the dignity of Emperors & kings taking on them to be hedes and governors over all kings regions and nations resisting all authorities temporal ordained of God and by his divine laws. The which abominations (I of a very zeal and love) and for the honour of God, and that all english men may the more perfiter see what other noble princes hath done of late days, have of my simple capacity translated this little work out of French in to our maternal tongue and language/ which was compiled of an noble and worthy Historiograffer, named Iohn le mayor 〈◊〉 year paste at the request of king 〈◊〉 french king, the last of that name which married the most worthy Lady marry fuster to our most redoubted King Henry the viii which had as then great wars to defend the Army & wa●re made by the pope julius, which with great cruelty oppressed king allows dominions & countries, which orator dedicated this french book unto the foresaid king allows the 〈…〉 yet in our days perceived their abominable usurpations, the which bishops of Rome arrogantly withheld against all king 〈…〉, whom he withstood with all his power for the which he was accursed in divers regiō● by the authority of this wicked antichrist julius/ can sing divers Kings and countries to invade his Realm/ much like to his predecessors in times passed/ putting all cristendome to great conflict and in shedding of blood/ and all this was only to support his eye●rable life (usurped power/ dignity imperial/ & regal/ which nothing less pertained to the church of Rome/ as plainly appeareth in this little book/ abbreyated out of divers authentic chronicles & stories with general councils and so most gen●yll reader because there be yet a great number of secret popish stomachs/ full loath to forsake the deadly prison that they & their forefathers have been nourished with/ by these ancient wypers & popyssh adherents/ caused me to set forth this little book/ by the which all men may see what holy fathers hath been in times passed in the church of Rome/ and what perverse works they have gone about in their general councils. wherefore let us most christian people with our hole mind, heart, & affection, draw, in one live, in one faith and law, with one God which is only in heaven. ¶ And fix our hearts with o●e accord under ou● only King Henry the viii whose acts showeth him that he hath been, is & shallbe even preserved of God/ and sent to us as an angelical King to govern the people of God from all Babylonyties, idolaters, Murderers, Destroyer's, of the Israelyties, also ye shall not find/ if ye ponder well in your minds that God of his infinite power hath not wrought in one King so high and wonderful acts civil and divine & worthy of memory both far and near/ by yond the sees, and on this side the sees, as he hath wrought in this our most right and worthy King now raining over us passing all kings written of, in the old Testament, as joshua, Gehew, josyas, Ezechias, kings, sent from God to govern greater regions than this is/ and yet to stable and confirm us the Lord god hath sent this out most noble king a prince to govern us when so ever it please him to call, wherefore let every man & woman/ life up their hearts/ and open their eyes/ & behold the most glorious and comfortable light which is no more hidden in close/ but only to them that shall perish/ the which light shineth only in our most worthy king given to him from god afore all other princis reigning/ the which pure light his grace doth set forth daily with his most noble assistance and worthy councils universally over all this his realm/ to the great comfort and unite of all us his subjects/ redressing the occasions of all pestilent enormities & schisms, which many years hath been grounded and rooted in this realm against God's honour & his princely authority wherefore humble I pray you all not to run to fast afore/ nor to far behind/ but gladly go with our king and obediently receive all statutes injunctions and ordinances the which be and shall be made by him and his council to our salvation / preservation/ and comfort and▪ so shall we●se and have again all things in his d●ew order●kynd/ & nature as holy ancient divine doctors of the primitive church maketh mention of in their catholic works according to holy scripture (as they left it) & thus will god draw up by the rotty● through his ministers all such old pestilent infections grown and sprung out of that whore of babylon and of her adherentes/ for the which set us all with our faithful heart & mind/ give god thanks ●aude, and praise, that through his omnipotent power will preserve the honour, health, and prosperity, of our most noble king Henry the viii with our prince Edward and his most prudent council may long continue and endure to his high honour and glory and the hole comfort of this Realm now and ever.  
AMEN.   

¶ The first part and difference of this book.  
FFyrst ye shall understand how the church of Rome/ was first infect with treasure and possessions. As first by the Emperor Constantyne/ the great and his successors? Pepyne/ charlemain/ Louis de bonere. And by divers other princes. How be it it was engendered/ & gathered/ under the shadow of policy, through feigned holiness. Whereof sprang great infections, and thereby was engendered many wicked children/ as Pride, Pomp, Arrogansy, heresy, authority of Kings, and Princes, suppressing subjects with great tyranny/ without mercy, shame or petty, after the which things there followed great abusions and debates, in councils generals. And thus of all these foresaid iniquities engendered great schisms and divisions, seperations, & impediments, with percyalytes, among christian regions whereof sprang great evils, tribulations inconveniences, persecutions, through all Christendom. And thus through these enormities, and inconveniences, it was expedient for diverse kings, & Pryncis to assemble diverse councils and congregations of wise & prudent persons, and faithful christian Rulers, and governors, the which councils doth more plainly appear in the first part of this present book and specially in the vii first schisms.   

¶ Of the first schism & division/ that began in the church of Rome, with persecutions and divisions, that arose through the possessions that constantyne the emperor gave to the bishop of Rome Sylvester and his successors.  
IT is a common experience/ & daily seen and hard/ that none evil is engendered but through some evil and malyvolent person/ as it appeared plainly by one Novatus an heretic priest & cardinal of Rome/ which was the first the inviolated the church of Rome through his detestable abusions & hypocrisy for he pretended none other/ but to obtain the dignity of the see of rome under his feigned holiness/ that was through Rygore, and ambition. Thus under his false & subtle pretence was raised up two anty papis against the holy bishop saint Cornelis/ the one was the said Noua●us at rome: the other nicostratus in affrica/ and so was expulsed the said Novatus, from the knowledge of the church of Rome/ & named himself (unmaculat clean without spot) and all his diciples and thus they abode in their apostasy/ as men that denied the faith catholic/ & not worthy to come again to the christian religion according as Christ's disciples did preach and teach the Gospel. For the which error it was thought expedient to assemble a counsel in Rome of .40. bishops, In the which counsel the said Novatus was condemned/ which was the first council that was assembled in the church of Rome/ except in the primitive church by the Apostles, and disciples, of christ. Thus abode Cornelis a roman in the see bishop suffering great tribulations and persecutions/ through the schisms of the two foresaid antypapes/ n●uatus and Nycostratus cardinals/ and perforce put Cornelius to exile/ & so afterward he was put to the Crown of martyrdom under the tyrant Decyus emperor & he rained bishop of Rome ii years and iii days and so he gave his power and authority to steven and thus the see of Rome lived many years after Christ's passion in great perfection/ symplyci●e & holiness replet with grace and virtue/ until the time that constantine poisoned holy perfection with temporal possessions/ which he gave then to the church of Rome and so rained after Cornelius/ Fabyan the first the xxi bishop of Rome/ which christened Philip the first Emperor of the name of the nation of araby/ who began to reign Anno dni cc.xlvi which when he died gave all his treasures, & possessions, unto the said Fabyan bishop of Rome/ the which Emperor died under Decius the Tyrant/ and so because that Decius the tyrant could not obtain King Philip's, treasures which was given to Fabyan bishop of Rome. Then Decyus caused great persecution through all the world among christian people, which was the vii persecution after Nero the great tyrant & so in this persecution Fabyan was put to death by cruel martyrdom with the first and the xxi martyr bishop of Rome/ following Saint Peter/ and under the said decyus died martyrs, Sebastian, saint Agatha, Appolonia with many other the were innocent of the treasures that fabyane, had which was the special cause of this cruel persecution of Christ's flock.  
¶ And so this cruel tyranny continued many years by detyns and his successors/ and so after Detyns successid ualerian gallus which began the viii persecution/ under whom died Sextus bishop of rome the first of that name (also) Laurens his deacon which distributed the goods of the church to the poor according to the law of God also saint Ypolyt with divers other martyrs died under him. And after him Aurclianus emperor borne in Dalmace, the xxxii emperor founder of orleans in France. And the city of Geneve upon the lake in savoy/ he persecuted the ix persecution on Christ's flock or region through christendom to pitiful to suffer.  
THe ten persecution was most cruelly used through Dioclesian & maximian Emperors borne in Dalmatiq which persecution endured ten years, which dioclesian caused himself to be honoured like a God in kissing his feet as popis of late days hath use princes and christian rulers to do which was abominable afore God, & man, and this said Dioclesian persecuted over all the oriental parts of the world & Maximian in likewise in the occident parts/ and tyranny upon Christ's chosen children was so horrible & unmerciful like bochers of beasts/ that it was to exec●eble in the sight of all people/ impossible for pen to writ for in the space of a month in y● pa●tꝭ of England & France was put to death xvii thousand christian people/ in so much that the faith of christ was almost in England and france extynckit that no man durst show him self a christian man for fere of death and tyranny/ & all books of Christ's faith brent that might be gotten/ so after this cruel persecutions the devil enemy to all mankind engendered many heresies as Sabellyans that denied that Jesus' christ was not the son of God and also the heretics called Manekis put forth two questions/ one good that other evil/ whereupon was gathered a great council in Antioch against Paul the samosethan bishop which denied the virginity of the virgin Mary mother of christ. In the which council and business was assembled xviii bishops in the city of senesse in the country of naples.  
¶ All this persecution endured unto the time of Constantyne the great emperor in which time was martyred and put to death for Christ's faith all these saints Marcellyn, marcel, Melchiades, bishops of Rome, Also Agnes, Anastase, Barbara, Crispyn, and Crispian, Crystofer, Cosme, and damian, Kateryne, Luce, margot, George, maximilian, quintyn, Blaze, Mauryce, Uincent, & many without number whose names are written in the book of life.   

¶ Here followeth the occasion of the schisms and enormities that came of the donation and gifts of Constantyne to the church of Rome.  
THus have you hard how the filthy treasures that Fabyan held Christ's church/ was infected first with by the covetous mind of Fabyan bishop of Rome/ which held the treasures of phylyp king which died under Decyus the tyrant/ which Decyus cruelly persecuted all christendom for with holding the said treasury of king phylyp/ and so afterward the foresaid No●atus & Nycostratus was proved false prophets & antipapes openly to their great rebukes and shame by a general council/ and yet after this there ●ose again through all Christ's church great discords/ trybulatyons'/ & persecutions through the infections/ pride & of arrogansy/ the arose in the church of Rome through the treasures and gifts of constantyne and of his successors/ where through sprang xxiii great schisms in continuance in crystes church through these possessions temporal abused.   

¶ Of constancius father of constantyne.  
COnstantyne was son to the daughter of claud. Emperor the second of his name, and the said Constancius married Helen queen of England herefor to the Crown of England/ by whom was conceived and borne constantyne/ the great/ the year of our Lord God ccc.viii which Constantyne was emperor of all the occident parts and after ward emperor of all the world.  
¶ And thus after his great wars civil he being yet a pagan & a persecutor of christian men/ as his predecessors were/ from the which tyranny God of his wonderful works converted him to the faith by Silvester bishop of Rome which was fled & hid himself for dread of death in mountains and woods.   

¶ Of Siluestre the first which triumphed over the church mylyta●●t of Rome/ through great possessyon● & treasures which the emp●rou● Constantyne enpoisoned 〈◊〉 church first withal.  
SIluester the xxxiiii bishop borne in Rome, was esteemed a man of holy life which had great grace given to him in conuertyng many to the faith, as specylaly constantyne the great/ by whose diligence and preaching the said sylvester caused him to seize of his cruel tyranny upon christian people/ commanding 〈◊〉 destroy all idols temples/ and set up Crystes churches/ & so worshipped the cross and passion of christ over all the world universal/ to the great joy of all cristendom and straightly he commanded that no persecution should be done over christian men in no region/ which was to all christendom a wonderful s●d ayne mutation and change that in a little while afore the no man so hardy the durst be known to be a christian man for fear of persecution of death/ in somoch they were hated over all/ that no body would suffer a christian man (ones known) abid in no place but lived in great dread and in secret places.  
¶ Thus by the provision of God syluestre was taken in like honour with kings which was as many have opinion and say it was by the subtle craft of the devil/ which is & ever was the ancient enemy of mankind which could find none other poison to destroy the perfexion of holy bishops/ which were xxxii. that died holy martyrs for crystes faith afore Sylvester/ & thus the devil supposing to have a great part of christendom/ through riches, power, dignity, pride, and heresy, and schisms, the should spring/ & did in deed afterward/ unto this day experience leadeth us to moche And some holdeth opinion, & writeth that at this triumph was herd a voice horrible in the air saying/ hody venenum in ecclesia semiau●, yet I can not assure this for a truth but as some writers have written.  
¶ This noble Prince Constantyne in love & zelus mind to siluester/ through the wonderful sufferance of God/ and blinded with worldly vanities, caused Silvester the bishop to be clothed with purple silks & raiment imperial most like a King or a Prince in somuch he took his crown imperial & set it on his heed/ yet notwithstanding Silvester with humble countenance would not take it, but utterly refused it & would not use nor take upon him to were it/ but a simple mitre of fustian/ the which is yet used among the bishops and cardinals of Rome to this day/ notwithstanding though Silvester would not take upon him the imperial Crown yet the bishops of Rome of late days have taken upon them usurpation & high authority three crowns of gold fashioned high and sharp copped, rich with stones and pearl as the box of a great lapydarye oryental for truly it is to be wondered on such superfluity to be worn on any such holy persons/ heed for Chryst our redemptor used no such vain glory/ for in this cause Platyne the great writer of stores master of the roulles in Rome/ whcihe mocketh this abusion in the time of Adrian the first which was called paul the proud a venecyan/ which gloryfy●d in himself in such like rich apparel even as a god in earth (and would so be called) among people in earth in his arrogancy & pride and thus would the said Paul use himself glorified every year of jubely/ afore all the world & afore the pilgrims & did use him to were the manner & fashion raiment/ of women in those days like the customable wearing that bishops did use, and yet moreover saint Austyn sayeth de verbis domini/ in reproach of the arrogancy & pride of pope's/ which would be called Gods saying thus. (Qui vult videre deus cum sit homo non imitatur illum qui cum deus esset pro illo factus est homo.)  
¶ Thus to proceed of Silvester though he with holy and simple countenance refused the rich crown imperial of Constantyne/ yet he would not refuse of Constantyne the great possession gifts and rents that he gave with the hole city of rome, which was no small possession as divers writers maketh mention, as doth Laurence valla the great orator.  
¶ This Sylvester caused to assemble the first great general council at Nycene and Bythena purposely against the herysies of Aryens which greatly increased, whose errors was in the distynctions of the three persons in trinity. And in this counsel was present xxxviii bishops assembled, ✚   

¶ Of the second schism and division that was in the church of rome, shortly after the donation of Constantyne. And of the herysies that fell in this time by the first pope heretics, & shameful sysmatykes. ❧ ❧  
AFter the donation of Constantine followed two bishops of Rome peaceable & just men in their office without schism or discord among crystes flock/ the one was named Mark, the other july. In whose time the heresies of the Aryans' increased more & more, which turned the heart and mind of Constance the son of Constantyne that then rained. And so he began the xi persecution upon christian people. And put julius in exile out of rome, whose place succeeded Liberius, and Felyce together, which envy each other, who should have the see of Rome, so in continuance Liberius the heretic through the favour of Constans obtained his purpose to be bishop of Rome, And enjoyed the see of Rome, the space of xlii years and vii months and three days/ notwithstanding he was noted to be the first pope heretic and sysmatyke. And supporter of the Aryans' articles, through his abominable glorious dignity pleasing the mind of the Emperor Constantyne the younger infect with the said heresies/ which was the most abhomynablest and cruel heresies that ever was, worse than the seckte of Mahommet/ for the Preestes Aryans' persecuted other christian bishops & catholic people without petty, or mercy, in Affryque & Spain. Thus was Felyxe the bishop of Rome put to death in this persecution/ the xiiii month of his reign/ & after this rose other heresies called Donastytes which baptized the christen again/ as our late Anna baptystes used and as the enmonyans' heretykis the said that jesus christ in his godhead was not equal with God the Father by divine nature/ but only by grace/ & the massedonyas heretics/ denied the holy Ghost to be equal with the Father, and the son, & thus these heresies arose the xii persecution through the commandment of julian the appostata emperor that was first a christen man and after fell to idolatry/ which persecution arose by evil example & schisms/ that he saw in Christ's church.   

¶ Here followeth the iii sisme of the church of Rome in which time Rome was destroyed by the gootes.  
SHortly after the second schism the third followed/ between bishop Damascus borne in Spain and Ursysinus cardinal & deacon his enemy/ which was his open challenger/ to battle in arms within the church wherethrough/ were many men slain one both parts, so inconclusyon Damascus overcame and vanquished ursysyne the antipape/ which was afterward content with the bysshoprycke of naples.  
¶ Thus is apparent to all the world/ what desolation and mischief ensued upon the possessions that was given to the bishops of●Rome by Constantyne & his successors what with violence of war & persecution of tyranny upon christian people, alas what petty was this to see the see of Rome so piteously brought in such a name by Damascus' bishop/ & this man was the first bishop of Rome that enterpressed deeds of arms & war for his dignity/ yet notwithstanding he is at this day acepted and taken for a holy glorious confessor/ yet was he accused for adultery and this man was the first that auctorysed saint Jerome's works and in his time Rome was taken/ and destroyed by Alarych King of gootes the which engendered great slander in the christian church in somuch that the paynims greatly reproached the christian religion for such shameful enormities in so much that many christian Kings and Princes withdrew them from serving of God/ and so fell from the faith where upon saint Austen compiled and wrote the book called (De civitate dei) & thus through this schism the devil ready to all mischief engendered another sort of heretics called Pelagyans'/ whose opinions was that man might merit without the grace and gift of God/ and that no man should pass upon baptism/ for the which error was assembled a counsel general in the city of Car●age & there were assemble cc.xviii prelate's where, as saint Austen was one of them & sheved well his science virtue and learning.   

¶ Of the four sisme/ & tribulations befell in christis church/ & of the great counceylles against the great heresies that then reigned which continued fift years.  
THus between the third schism & the fourth was but four peaceable bishops of Rome, which were Syryake Anastase first, Innocent the first/ & zosynus after whose death began the four schism & division in the church/ that is to wet between Bonyface the first and eulalyus cardinal priest. The cause of their division was that the clarge were departed in to two parts and sorts/ in the which time the Emperor Theodosius being at Mallan with his wife were banished & shortly after Boniface was revoked again and so made bishop of Rome only/ after that unto the fift schism began the heryses of predestination the which affirmed that no person availed to do any good works but every person to do his pleasure for god had predestynated every man to be saved & dampened at his pleasure & in this season was assembled a council at constantinople in the time of gratiam Emperor & theodose & damascus bishop of Rome against the error of the macedonyans.  
¶ So following not long after was assembled the third great council at Ephese, by the commandment of Theodose afore written & bishop Telestyn against the heresies of the Nestoryans'/ which held opinion/ that the virgin mary was not mother to the son of God & in this opinion was many countries sore infected with/ as France, Spain, Africa, with many other small dominions/ in which time Ursula & her company suffered death and martyrdom at Colone.  
¶ And in this season was assembled the iiii. general council in Calsydonye in Asia the less end/ the which was assemble ccccc. thirty. bishops by the authority of bishop Leo the first of that name/ & Marsun then emperor This assemble was to convict the heryses of Eutycyanes' abbot of Constantynople who held opinion that Chryst had taken humanity upon himself & that he had in him but one nature that was pure dyvynyte/ the which heryses was fordone by the said council/ and shortly after began another schism called Archefallyke/ that is to wite without a head/ which denied all Canons of the said counsel.  
¶ And this time befell a great mischyfe in Rome that Anastasius than second bishop of that name/ born in Rome became an heretic & was named the second bishop abominable in Rome/ for he favoured the opinions of that nestoryans as Lyberius' bishop did afore written took the opinions of the Arians and this Anastasius was the first that gave out curse upon any Emperor or King, & in sin this cursed bishop died full of misery, in somuch that his bowels fell from him sitting at the s●ole of eysment as stores make mention & he reigned one year and xxiiii days.   

¶ Of the .v. schism and councils gathered for the unity of the church/ and destruction of divers herysyes.  
THe .v. schism of the church of Rome began the year .494. this schism began between Symachus and Laurence the cause of this division was that the clergy could not agree in their voices/ which of these two should hold the see of Rome for the which rose great division and dissension in two pertes among the romans/ and in fine agreed to assemble a council at Ravenna in the presence of Theodore King of Goats/ In the which council they agreed that Symachus should be bishop through Theodore the King/ which bishop was at Sardyne/ & Laureus was made bishop of Nucerre thus was finished the .v. schism.   

¶ Of the vi schism of the Churches.  
THrough the foresaid bishops was the vi schism first with in four years some of the clergy of Rome sedicivos persons and lovers of new tidings with help of two senators conspired to depose Simacus bishop and would have put in Laurens afore written/ here upon the King Theodoryke being sore aggrieved/ he set one Peter Altyne to keep the see of Rome for himself and chased the foresaid two bishops in exile/ and so in conclusion the said Symacus assembled a counsel of vi score bishops and they purged himself clean of all things/ there laid against him for the which he abode still bishop of Rome, and yet notwithstanding there was such discord & uprorers among the romans/ the oftentimes many were slain in the streets both priests and men of law/ in somuch the one Faustus a great man of power set a direction among the senators/ or else had followed greater ruin/ thus may ye see what virtue or debatꝭ arose by the possession & giftis that Constantine gave to the church of Rome.   

¶ The vii schism of the church of Rome.  
IN this time reigned Emperor of Constantynople justyniane the second of that name/ in whose time was Seresinus borne in Surrey. Anno xpi .706. Against the which arose an antipope which held byforse the dignity of Rome/ whose name was Diascorus/ thus began the vii sisme in the church of Rome/ with great persecution & tribulation in Rome/ which continued a great season unto the time of Gregory the second of that name/ born in Rome with another named Sygysmond, thorough whose enormities the faith of Chryst began sore to decay in the orient parts/ and through this horlay burlay the bishops of Rome took courage/ and lifted up their horns/ that is their power against the emperors more than ever was seen/ for this Gregory & Anastase were the second abominable bishops that reigned in Rome after Anastase/ which was so bold to excommunycat his Emperor Leon the iii of his name the which cause was that he would a put down the worshipping of images through all christendom saying it was idolatry hated of god/ & the pope withstand it beforse wherethrough arose great bands of companies & of persyalytes between Emperors & bishops/ wherethrough oftimes schisms hath been renewed & thus during this schism & discord/ arose out of afric a great army of Sarazyns & entered into spain/ & won the Realm of Granado/ and so kept it by force ●yl with great policy and force of Princes & Kings wane it again/ also in this time was a great army of saracens in France/ which were recoiled byforse of arms by Charles Prince and Martyr & in this time of Gregory began the Lent of forty days to be fasted/ the which Lent Melchiades, predecessor of saint Silvester strongly withstood & defended/ because thereby might engender great corruption and infexion universally among christian people. As witnessed then the council of physicans expert.  
¶ And in this time of continuance of malice in the Church, one Constantyne bishop of Rome usurped the see of the papasy by force, & by money, whose eyes were perforce put out, & so put in prison in a monastery, by the which he is named the .v. abominable bishop of Rome. And in this time began the nation of turks, that came out of Tartary who enuayed sore the partis oriental And so minished sore christendom. And this heresies did increase more & more, where through they were enforced to assemble the vii council at constantinople for the 〈…〉 and worshipping of Images in the Church which many said it was idolatry, and for certain other Articles that the Greek church had against the holy ghost. ❧ ❧   

¶ Here followeth the second part of this book, which treateth of the .v. first counceylles holden by the church Gallicane at orleans. And the third was commanded by king Clovis, the first christian king in France.  
THe noble 〈◊〉 maketh mension that Clovis the first christian king of France/ which was between the four & the .v. schism then reigned. And this king was the first christian that assembled a general council in Orleance. Anno. dni .486. Raining that time at Constantinople the emperor zeneme. And at the time sat in the apostolyk see 〈◊〉 the iii of the name And about 〈◊〉 time rained king Artur of England and he sent a president to that council at Orleance one named Mellanius, which he sent for a good purpose for the wealth of the church.   

¶ Of the council Germanik, holden in the time of charlemain the great.  
This Charlemagne rained emperor o●er Almaigne, France, and Ytaly, which assembled this council in a city in Germanya called Herbypolys in the time of Adryan the first bishop of that name/ as Platyne writeth the which council the Greeks called the great Sinoda, and there was condemned the opinion of the Felycyan the which said that no images ought to be in the church, and shortly after Pope Leo the third of the name came into France to Charle main/ complaining of three priests which had done him great ultrage and displeasure/ y● one named Pasculis the other Pri●isserius/y● third called Caupulus/ the which with many of their opinion drove out of Rome the said Adryan with all his affinity for going on precessyon and singing the Lateny which Gregory instituted and ordained afore for the which charlemain was sore displeased/ and so at the said Adryans' request charlemain raised a great army and went to Rome/ to set Adryan bishop in his see again/ wherethrough he had the name of the Empire of Rome/ which he gave to the see of rome & great possessions & richesse/ as his father Pepyn did afore him as diverse such successors hath syas continued and augmented.   

¶ Of a great council holden at Aquis Granun in the time of emperor Louis de bonnere son to charlemain which lieth buried in Aquis granum.  
OF this council writeth Platyne historyograffer/ that there were assembled all the Princes and councils under the power and dominion of Louis de bonnere the which Louis at this connceyll gave Lotere his son part of his Empire/ and crowned him king of Ytaly/ and Pepyn his second son he named him king of Acquitayne/ and Louis his third son he named king of Bavary/ and at this council the infidels and saracens laboured for Peace which was granted/ and at the which council was compiled a great Book of Laws and constitutions for ecclesiastical ceremonies and orders/ which were straightly kept which book was made and compiled by Amalarius a man flourishing in Learning in that time/ & at this time of Louis the good King and Emperor/ he perceiving the abominable pride that exceeded in bishops of Rome and other prelate's of the Church/ as among Preestes/ and other mean sort/ such Pomp, and Raiment, so presyous/ & rich, and superfluous withal and to much gazing and glistering/ set with Gemmys, pearl, & stone/ like Kings and Princes, & on their Fingers rich rings and so this good King commanded this pride & glory to be fordone/ and caused a more sadder and a sympler fashion and manner of raiment used and worn and thrusted down all their pride & pomp/ and caused that no bishop nor prelate should were but one Ring of Gold/ which should serve for his sign and seal, and so they were contented and agreed/ also as Platyne writeth the bishop of Rome Steven the fourth of that name borne in Rome/ and successor of Leo the third being at the said council fled from the romans & came into France to king Louis the good King at orleans/ & was there honourably received and at his return gave him aid and strength to return to Rome/ and he gave him a cross of so great valour that was inestimable to judge, which was sent as an offering to saint Peter.   

¶ Of the coursed and wicked council that was held at Campyne by the prelate's of France against the said good king Louis. ✚  
THere was about this time a detestable and wicked council & a permysyous, which was gathered by evil authority ***** of the wicked prelate's of France/ which conspired against their good King Louis/ because he set a direction and good order against their dishonest living pomp, pride, & abomination, and superfluities as afore was written/ and thus this wicked council of prelate's conspired a great insurrection and army of much people/ as the son against the father and friend against friend/ & so took the good King Louis, & put him captive at seysons in a strong hold. And to this conspyrese was agreed, pope Gregory the four of his name because he was not beneficial to the Church of Rome at that time, and for redressing many enormytꝭ. And not so beneficial as he was to other bishops afore. And as the orator Raphael of voluntary testifieth of this wicked council & company assembled without authority. And so there these traitors condemned this good king without authority/ & deposed him from all arms and out of his dignity emperyal and despoiled him of his Kings raiment and put on him a monks kole in derision.  
¶ O cursed & wicked Pharysyans/ replete with treason and hypocrisy sacerdotal/ how can ye conspire so great abomination and cruelty against so good a king/ for redressing your Antecristian living/ pomp & pride/ surely this is not your first cruelty for ye began with the heed that was our saviour jesus Christ whom ye shamefully crucified and put to death.  
¶ And thus continued the good king Louis captive indesolation among his enemies/ till God provided for him through good councils/ & justice divine of Kings and Prelates that he was restored to his original title emperor and King of France again.   

¶ Of the council of Troy's in Champaign/ holden by the king Louis that stutted in his speaking.  
IN the time of this Louis/ son of Charles came in to France/ Iohn bishop of Rome the viii of that name borne in Rome/ And escaped out of the prisons and captivity of the romans which hated him because he would have crowned this said Louis the s●utter Emperor of Rome/ for the romans would rather have had Charles his brother king of germany/ and not only for this cause he fled but because of two earls which would have taken from him the patrimony of the Church/ and in this cause he did curse them/ and so came for succour in to france and there abode a xii months/ & desired the help of the King/ which could not come/ because he lay seek at Towers notwithstanding within short time after he recovered his sickness/ then he & the bishop met together in Troy's in Champaign and there assembled a council of the church Gallycane.  
¶ And thus at this said council were determined many holy decrees/ & there they confirmed a bishop to be Pastore over the country of Flaunders/ which was a wild Forest for to make Colys/ and full of maryse as Platyne writeth/ which afterward was replet with people and towns/ wherethrough it is to be conjectured they be under the dioses of Tornay as yet remaineth.  
¶ Yet furthermore at this said council this said Iohn bishop gave the crown empire to king Louis the stut●er & alled him august, yet would not he grant to crown his wife Queen/ & so after this council finished/ Iohn bishop the viii of that name returned to Rome/ to war on the saracens which were entered in to the parties of italy.   

¶ Of two councils holden at Raynys one against another one by the kings & the other by the bishop of Rome.  
Against these councils the bishop Benedict the vii of that name/ caused to assemble another council at Raynes in the which Arnulphus was restored to the byshoprych of reins and the usurped bishop deposed/ which was after archbishop of Revenna and sins bishop of Rome by craft and means of Diabolyke science wherein he was expert/ yet notwithstanding he ended his days miserably,   

¶ Of a great council general assembled at Cleremonde in Auernea/ in the time of phylyp the first of that name, Emperor king of France, there present Urbanus the second bishop of that name in Rome/ in the which counsel was the great viage of Godfroy debullyon set forth upon the sarazens/ where by the faith of christ was largely increased in Turkey. ✚  
THis holy bishop of Rome Urban the xii of that name Abbot of Clunye a black monk and cardinal of Hostyensis, was moved with pity and compassion thorough the lamentable complaints of the worthy pylgreme Peter the hermit borne at men's/ the which came lately from the holy land. And so informed Urban of the misery and po●erte, & servitude that christian people were in there with the patriarch Simon in jerusalem. So this complaint hearing Urban, moved with compassion & prepared with all diligence for succour & deliverance of them there being in the thraldom & danger of saracens, turks, & Infidels, which christian people lay in this thraldom from the time of Hiracle, which was the year of our Lord god. cccc.lxxx. or there about as platyne writeth.  
¶ And shortly after Urban was in so great trouble and veration among the romans, that they were fain to fly out of Rome, and came in to France. And there was assembled through his coming a great council of all the Prelates of the Church catholic which was holden in the city of Cleremount in Ouernia. And some stories saith that Philip the first of that name assembled another council against the Hollandes. And so when the great council of Urban the bishop of rome was assembled in the holy Ghost/ this said Urban made an excellent and elygant Oration to that assemble. And there thereof breyfly & sentenciously I gathered as followeth concerning the viage to jerusalem for the deliverance and captivity of the christian people.  
¶ All ye honourable audience here assembled ye shall understand that I which have taken on me unworthy this intendeth to set good order and reformation in all thing according to the catholic religion of christ.  
¶ It is not unknown to you what ingeries and loss hath been of late days in christendom by saracens and infidels without mercy or pity/ with great wars and battayllies/ for the which remedy is there none but by force of arms/ wherefore to redress it as we and you be very C●tristyans stand fast in the faith/ and let us seek remedy for this piteous tyranny that christian people do sustain, and Remember the great diligence that your predysessours hath had in this behalf in times passed, And spetyally ye nobles of France, which hath alway sustained against the Infydelys, also you germans & Saxons & Pole-axe, Bohemies, and hungaryon and english nation ye should not suffer this tyranny upon christian people so piteously also ye italians should remember what pains and tyranny your predycessoures' friends of late days hath suffered by them also ye venecyans & ye of Dalmase and of Hystrye/ and all ye bourderars of the Ardryatyque sees which have alway valiantly defended the malyse & power of the sarazens/ now apply yourself withal other princes to withstand this cruel infidels or else ye shall see your children/ your wives/ your goods/ and lives, utterly destroyed by cruelty, wherefore awake all ye valiant parsonage and we humbly desire you in the mercy of God/ put on your armies & spread forth your standards and Banners & set forth your compaynyes with great courage/ and God that is most puysaunt shall be with you & send his omnipotent power to ayed & strength you in all your ways & to confound all that shall withstand you.   

¶ how by the means of this oration made by Urbanus bishop of Rome through it all Princes on this side Constantinople took great courage and enforced them to assemble great armies on all parts to go upon the sarazens/ & so to jerusalem.  
ANd thus as soon as Urbanus had finished his oration all that were there present/ arose & said with one voice this is the will & pleasure of God/ and therewith Urban blessed them all saying this blessing/ I give you as long as ye shall endure this journey/ and ye shall understand that in this assemble and council was many noble worthy Princes and barons, and noble men the which many of them sold their lands, hoping to prosper in this journey to the high honour and service of God/ whereof is made mention in diverse crownacles more at large/ in the which journey god fray of Bullion was the chief of that enterprise/ and thus was finished the council of Clerimont.   

¶ Of the council of Troy's in champagne by bishop Paschal the twelfth for the reformations of the Church.  
AFter this great council arose the .17. sisme in the church/ in the time of paschal bishop of Rome the .12. of that name borne in italy afore a monk and so successor of Urbanus/ which came into France for to have reformation of diverse abuses that was then in the Church far from all good fashion and order whereon he caused a council to be assembled general/ wherein was reform many things/ and specially he deposed many prelate's and benefysed men/ which were negligent & unlearned from their pastoralyte & curious/ & admitted such as were able for such promotions and to preach and give example of living in Christ's church.   

¶ Of the council holden at reins by Calixte bishop of Rome/ brother to the earl of Burgoy●gne/ in the which council Henry the fourth Emperor was accoursed and excommunicate.  
AFter this Pascal rained gyles the second of the name borne in italy in whose time fell the .18. schism in the which suffered many tribulations & persecutions as ye shall find in the time of Henry the fourth Emperor which created an antipope named Benedictus/ the which antypape pope Gyles drove out of italy/ and so fled into France.  
¶ And so in the absent see of this said Gyles possessed the see bishop of Uy●nne named Guy of Burgongne, which was in the holy land of jerusalem when Godftay de Bullion, the which Guy was taken and accepted for a man of an acceptable life, whose name was afterward called Calixtus the ii but yet as stories saith that the foresaid Gylies was he that coursed Henry the emperor in the counsel and not this Calyxt/ for he was nigh a kine to the emperor Henry which married Ma●de daughter to the king of England and this said curse was given by Gyles bishop because of the reformation of the pride & pomp that then was usurped among prelate's and priests/ as well in dignities & their authorities/ as in excess of gorgeous apparel & a raiment also partly as Platyne writeth it was for the supporting of an antipope named Burdyn a spanyard/ as here after in the third part here of shall make mention and so was Calyxt made bishop & stauled in Rome byforse & caused the emperor Henry to be besieged, the ●yte of reins where he was accursed.   

¶ Of the second counsel holden at Cleremond/ and of another holden at reins in champagne almost in one tyme.  
INnocent the second bishop of Rome and borne in the same City held war & battle against Roger normunde King of Naples/ ***** and the son of Roger vanquished this bishop Innocent in plain Batyle/ and took him & his cardinals prisoners/ yet notwithstanding this prince William e●treated him & his cardinals gently and honourably/ and in continuance he set them at liberty like a noble man.  
¶ And this time enduring was another bishop of Rome named/ Anacletus, by whom the foresaid Innocent was chased out of Rome/ & this was the xviii schism as ye shall plainly see in the last part of this book.  
¶ And thus in that time by the advisement of king Louis the gross was holden two councils in France/ in the which was the foresaid Innocent present/ these counceylles were holden at cleremont in Ouernya/ & the other at reins in champagne in the which councils were determined diverse decrees and by the which Innocent overcame his adversary annacletus his antipape and so he returned to Rome again & posseded his see.   

¶ Of the council of Uezelay/ which was kept in Burgonye and kept in the time of king Louis the younger/ wherein was provoked the second journey upon the infidels.  
During the time of the .19. schism of the which ye shall perceive more at large in the third part of this book/ so this time Engenius the .3. of that name bishop of Rome borne in Pisa in ●●alye/ who was disciple of saint Bernard the white monk/ & this man also fled in to France apart for succour for the great murmur & fury, that he had of the romans/ and part for to council and to motion christen Princes to war upon the infidels the which had taken a great city called Edessa Mesopotania in grecya.  
¶ For the which cause king Louis the younger son to gross Louis/ the which endeavoured himself with great diligence toward this journey & assembled a great counsel of prelate's & princes in the city of vezelay in Burgone, and through the council and advise of saint barnard with other/ this young Louis vowed to go on this journey and he required to help the christian people that were there/ so sore oppressed of the infidels/ insomoch that after him followed his wife with great number of people. And with them conradus king of Romans, Alfonce king of Spain richard the first of England with great number of knights and barons which was the second passage universal the christendom made to the holy Land of jerusalem.  
¶ And as Platyne saith this Eugenius and saint bernard was the chief setters forth in this council, for this army, And so returned to rome quietly.   

¶ Of the third council held in Ouernya & of two other councils one at Towers another at Dygyon.  
THus the twenty schism of the church was against bishop Alysaunder the third of that name, borne at Senys, the year of our Lord. M.lxxx. and this schism & division endured in the church xvii years/ against four Antypapes that then rained & were suffered by the emperor frederic called barbarous/ and so this Alyxsaunder fled out of Rome for succour unto king Phillype augustus who then assembled a council in Cleremonde in Ouernya against the foresaid frederic/ for maintaining of victor Antypape/ by the which variance and division in christendom, in this mean season jerusalem was won by the soul dan Saladyne/ which was never yet recovered to this day this was the year of christ .1184. and so this emperor frederik would fain a brought to pass a unity & concord/ & would have had this co●●ceyl at Dygyon in Burgony where they should amet with king Phyllype, and the king of Boheme, and king of Scots and should have had the said antipope Victor/ which he brought all to pass byforce of arms, or else not.  
¶ But yet this Alexsaunder bysshup of Rome would not consent to come there/ for he had that place in susspecke and so gathered another council at Towers, and thus the emperor frederik/ in spite and displeasur returned in to Almaigne/ and sent Victor his antipope in to ●talye & thus was all things in more pertur bacyon & unquietness than it was afore, thus all christian people may see what mischief & vengeance hath been through the obstinacy of wicked bishops of Rome over all christendom & ever will be until the hand of God put remedy.   

¶ Of two councils in france holden in Paris in Phyllyps' time/ and of the disi●e of Salandyne.  
IN the time of this phyllip august/ came Enbassatoures queen Isabel from the king of jerusalem which came for succour for the christian prisoners the Saladyne soldan had in captivity/ whereupon was gathered a counsel at Paris to no purpose, but for the succour of christian men for the king Philip had as then great war against Hue duke of Burgone and other.  
¶ And thus this said Philip sent ambassadors to king richard curedelyon desiring him of aid in this cause to the which he granted with good will & so/ shortly after he assembled a great army on both parties of France, and England, and went on a croose against the enemies of cristendome/ but the foresaid king Richard could not obtain his purpose for he was slain afore a castle or he came to jerusalem/ and notwithstanding his son took that journey/ on him & for the maintenance of this was paid all the hole rents of the churches/ and monestaryes in France which was called the subsidy of Salandyne and after this foresaid company followed frederic emperor with a great puissance/ which was called the third general voyage in to the holy land.   

¶ Of another counsel holden in France by a Legate of the bishop of Rome against king phillype augustus.  
THus another council was holden against Pyyllype after his return by the legate of Innocent the third of that name/ & there was the king Pyllype interdicted and all the Realm for forsaking of the Queen/ which was the bishops kinswoman and hereupon the King armed him & raised a great army/ & he exiled all the bishops that consented to the curse/ and put them in Prison and from their benefices etc.   

¶ Of the council holden at Paris/ against the albygens.  
IN the time of Louis father to saint Louis than Gregory the ix rained Anno. Dni .1226. then came in to France a legate from the bishop/ which legate was named Romanus & there was gathered a council they concluded to war upon the heretics Albygoys/ which was in the country of Auynion, in Provence, & Languedoc, which were replete with great villainy and herysyes, and so the King went upon these countries & subdued them, and in returning home he died.   

¶ Of the first counsel holden at Lions in the time of saint Louis king/ and of Innocent bishop of Rome the .4. of that name borne in Genys.  
THe which bishop came into France for socour for case that the Emperor frederik persecuted him/ Anno Dni .1246. and the Emperor was syted to appear at this council and came with a great company/ and at turayne he returned home again for his enemies were entered into his country.  
¶ This debat continued long time the space and time of three bishops of Rome successively/ that was Honorius the .3. the other Gregory/ & Innocent afore written/ and thus thorough the cruel obstinacy of these bishops there arose great mischief & dissension through all cristendome, & so thereby was engendered great war in all christendom in the which time of wars was lost Constantinople & so at this counsel was nothing concluded through the great ruin that fell in christendom/ by these foresaid bishops of Rome one after another.   

¶ Of the second council of Lions/ in the time of Gregory the tenth/ and in the time of king phylyp son to saint Louis.  
THe year of grace .1232. reigned king Philip son to saint Louis/ who assembled another council at Lions whereunto came Gregory bishop the tenth borne in pleasance/ this King phylyp was the first that gave the bishop a guard of men of arms/ also he gave him .3. strong Places for his safeguard about Lion/ and to this council came th'emperor Michael paleolog of Constantinople/ for the Reformation of the greek church/ which had fallen the xiii time in to Ruin, and yet would not be reform.   

¶ Of another council holden at Paris, in the time of king Philip the fair/ against the bishop bonyface the eight which used great tyranny against the Clerge.  
phylyp the fair a prudent & virtuous king began to reign .1286 & in his time possessed the see of Rome Boniface the viii successor of celestine the .v. which was a wise and a virtuous man the which Bonyface craftily deceived/ & this bonyface was of the nature & fashion of the italians/ as arrogaunte, and fierce, which nothing considering the beneficial gifts that his predecessors had received in France/ as ye shall here more at large.  
¶ This said Bonyface the .8. sent as straight a commandment unto the king of France by an enbassade a fierce bishop/ how that the said King should in continent without delay go● and prepare in all hast a great navy and an army also, to go into the holy Land/ the which the said King could not bring to pass/ forcause of great wars that he had at that time against the Flaunders nation.  
¶ And thus this said arrogant bishop saying that he could not obtain his purpose/ began to threaten & rebuke the king rygoryously saying that in case that he would not fulfil his message/ he would cause him to i'll out of his Realm/ and for because that this bishop enbassatour used himself so rigorously/ against the King/ the King took high displeasure and straightly commanded him to prison.  
¶ After this tidings came to this foresaid Boniface the viii Coloryk, proud and arrogant above measure, And sent straight an archdeacon Embasadour commanding the king phyllyp the fair that he should not enterprise to take nor raise no money Subsidy upon the church, the which subsidy he was enforced to do for the great wars that he was charged with at that time/ for his defence. And the said archdeacon discharged the said king for the Inprysonement of the said bishop, that he should be exiled all the iurisdixion of Rome. And that it should be authorized in Rome, for ever his disobedience and so taken/ nomynated as an heretic, and a sysmatyke, also the said Archdyacon syted him with divers other bishops/ & prelates of the Clergy to come unto Rome parsonally by a certain day/ and disannulled all the Prevylages of grants & pardons given by his predycessours of the see of Rome.  
¶ This was an extreme rigour in the presence of all his barons and council which was so dysdaynous & proudly spoke by the said enbassatour/ without any severity or of good order/ and if the King were moved or abashed it was no marvel/ & so commanding with sober advisement that the first Enbassatour the bishop should be set at liberty/ and that in all the haste with further deliberation he should departed his Realm/ and so in short time after he assembled a great council of bishops/ & barons/ in the which the King opened all the ultrages and abominations that the foresaid Innocent the eight used against him/ and openly there expressed how shamefully & craftily this Boniface/ came by the see of Rome, and turned him to the Clergy & to the lords temporal saying, of whom hold ye your Lands & possessions but of me/ wherefore I will ye/ ye henseforth not so hardy to send or pay any money or treasure/ to the court of Rome / and hereupon caused all bridges, porties, and passages, to be stopped and kept/ & thus Boniface the bishop of Rome cursed him/ & conspired great malice and ingeris against the King & procured great enuyte against him by certain princes/ and shortly this was the fine and conclusion of this debate was thus.  
¶ The King saying the importunate malice of this antichrist bishop/ the King caused .200. men of arms conduted by two subtile and wise persons/ and they which went to that town of agnane/ where the bishop lay in Naplies/ and took him there in & brought him prisoner to Rome/ where he died miserably for dolour & cursed mind within .24. days after, and his epytaphe was such like as he deserved as followeth.  
Intravit ut Uulpes, regnavit ut Leo, mortuus est ut cavis, that is in english he entered as a Fox, & reigned like a Lion, and died as a Doge.   

¶ Of another council holden in france at Uyenne. Anno Dni .892.  
THe author found in old ancient library a Book at lions/ wherein was written, that from the time of Formosus bishop of Rome/ began the ix sisme which shallbe more leargely treated of, in the third part of this book, and so by the commandment of Louis King otherwise called Louis le balbe through the council of his wife/ assembled a council in the church of saint Saluatour where were gathered two legatꝭ of Rome, the one named pascal/ the other Iohn/ & the archbishop of Uyenne/ and Aurelyan archbishop of Ualencie/ with many other prelate's, and learned men of the clergy, and yet at this time the priests were married/ and at this council was decreed this act word for word.  
¶ Ut presbiteri non in villis/ sicut quibusdam consuetudinis est (morentur) et feminas suas secum in domibus suis habitare non permittant, exceptis quas canonicas permittit auctoritas/ that is in english. That priests which dwelled in Cities, & in Towns, of custom having their wives with them dwelling should no more so be suffered (but only those) as should be permitted & suffered by the authority of the holy Canons.   

¶ Of another general counsel holden at Uyenne in dolphin .1312.  
AFter the Ignomynyous and shameful death of Bonyface afore written y● .8. of that name bishop of Rome, succeeded Benedictus the eleventh borne at Taruyse in italy a black Frere which was amoderat parson/ nothing like his predycessour for he assoiled Philip king of France of that sensuries of the church which bishop Bonyface surmised against him & so this good bishop rained but eight months and .17. days after whom rained Clement the .v. a gasken borne, archbishop of Burdux which was chosen by the cardinals resident for the time, i'the year of our Lord, at the instance of king phylyp lafoy bell .1305.  
¶ Thus shortly after this said Clement assembled a great company of Cardynalles & bishops, to no little cost and charge to all the church of France/ and so came to Lions with great pomp, & worldly glory, where met with him many cardinals of Italy/ where as he was corwned with great pomp & Royalty/ at the which coronation was king phylyp lafoy bell with his brother Charles & all the princes of France/ & in all this pomp & royalty, befell a great sudden mischance/ where as a great number of people were slain in the fall of a great old wall where as much people were assembled for to behold this great pomp and ryalty/ in the which fall was ●layne the duke Iohn of Brytanye & the king sore hurt, and the new bishop smitten from his Horse/ in so much that his crown fell from his head/ & lost the richest stone there one called a Carbuncle/ esteemed worth vi M. duccatꝭ, & thus after this mysfortunat adventour this said bishop Clement departed from lions/ & came to Auygnyon where as he abode/ & there removed the See appostolyque from Rome unto Auignyon/ the which see appostolike removed abode there the space lxxiii years after afore it was removed to Rome again.  
¶ The sixth year after the foresaid Clementis coronation which was the year .1311. in the month of Novembre was assembled a great general counsel universal through all christendom in the City of Uyenna in dolphin/ where as was assembled above .300. prelate's of diverse countries through all christendom/ & this counsel was partly gathered at king Phillips request to reprove the foresaid boniface an heretic & a sismatyke/ which was his cruel enemy & to disannul his acts and decrees/ howbeit it came not to pass though clement bishop promised him the council would not consent thereunto/ yet notwithstanding it was judged/ said and declared that his acts/ and decrees against the King, were nought & unjust and of no valour.  
¶ Also at this council was utterly destroyed all the rules & writings of the Templars and brent them and all their possessions given unto the order of saint Iohnns in jerusalem the which we call the knights of the Rhodes.  
¶ Also at this council the grey Friars were at great division within them selves for the which was decred many acts and decrees in the canon book called Clementynys/ compiled by this said Clement bishop of Rome/ also at this council was great council for to recover the holy Land/ but it nothing availed also some hystoryans hold opinion that this bishop Clement kept two other counceyls in France to destroy the herysyes that were in valdoyes, and pyemont, and Savoy, this finished the great counsel of Uyenne.   

¶ Of a council holden at Auynyon.  
AT the time of the xxi schism/ ye shall here more largely of in the later end of this book/ and so this council of Auynyon began by johan bishop of Rome the xxii of the name a grey Friar/ in whose time arose an antipope by the maintenance of th'emperor Louis of Bavaria/ the which antipope held a council in Italy/ where as he declared the said Iohn xxii of that name to be an heretic/ and this said antipope and his company held opinion that Chryst & his disciples were poor and that they had nothing prive nor common, the which was proved the contrary in this council of Auynyon.   

¶ Of two counceyllies holden in France at Paris in the time of king Charles the sixth forcause of a great dissension that was in the church in the two and twenty schism.  
SOme men will think that king phylyp lafoy bell did, for a policy cause Clement to move the see appostolyke from Rome, & so to be kept at Auynyo●, but all things pondered it turned his country to moche trouble/ ruin/ and grief/ as long as it was there-holden the space of lxxiiii years/ for as soon as the see appostolike was moved to Auynyo● by Clement, then succeeded Iohn the .22. of that name Anno .1327. of our Lord & in his time rained Louis de Bavaria/ & frederik duke of oystryche which had great war together by this mean/ also king phylyp de Valois father of king Iohn that was prisoner in England through the cause the xxi sisme of the which ye shall here more of in the last part of this book & through this foresaid cause arose also an Antipape in italy named Nycolas the third which was supported by the emperor/ Louis de Bavarya.  
¶ Also yet further inconuenyenses arose by this mean that this said Bishop preached and supported diverse visions, fantasies, and dremyes of contemplation/ which was of little faith/ the which diverse doctoures in divine withstood & proved the contrary/ & yet furthermore this said bishop oppressed the realm of France with impositions/ donations/ and decimis/ & subsides/ & expectatyves with other inventions/ such as the court of Rome could well contrive, in so much that no learned man of Paris could obtain any benefice, but they were polled and pilled by cardinals & curtysians under them of auynyon through the which pillage & abominable living it was generally called the whore of babylon/ for their great pillage/ riches, pomp, & pride, in somuch they had the half of all the benefices in France and this abomination was sore resisted by the university of Paris.  
¶ After this shameful ruyngne the seat appostolyke was removed to rome again Anno Dni .1376. in the time of Gregory the eleventh borne in Lymogys/ and he was not long without great prejudice and flaunder by the twenty sisme moved by Urbane the vi Neopolitan borne/ which Urbane caused .v. cardinals of France to be drowned/ and in this season was two bishops in christendom/ the one in Rome and that other in Auynyon/ in somoch that people were so a mased & troubled that they cold not judge nor know which of them was in the just and in right authority/ and this schism endured .40. years which was more troublous and dangerous than any that ever befell afortyme/ & thus befell evil upon eyull so the Bohemis became as the time required far from the faith/ & utterly denied and disspysed the romans.  
¶ Thus was all christendom vexed, & troubled with these two bishops which continued many years successively from bishop to bishop after the death of Urban the which held his see at Rome after whom succeeded Innocent the .7. and after him succeeded Augelus a Uenecyan whom was named Bonefacius the ix and thus after Clement vi that died in Auygnyon/ suceeded Benedictus xiii whose errors were worse than were afore for this Benedictus was very obstinate. ¶ By this occasion was Charles sore moved and unquiet through these schisms/ & sent noble ambassadors unto avignon to the bishop which was only for the concord & unity of Christ's Church/ but it little availed for they returned without answer.  
¶ That saying the king assembled at Paris a great council of all his princes and barons with the prelate's & the best learned men of his realm/ where as they consulted together that both bishops should be deposed/ whereupon the duke of Bavary and the duke of Burgone went to the by●shop at avignon to discus this message with a noble power/ and when the bishop understood what was their coming and wherefore/ for fear to consent fled away secretly out of avignon, & left them alone without farewell or leave taken/ & returned in to his native country/ whereof these dukes were abashed and so returned to Paris again pensive where the King lay/ & after this they held another counsel in the same City in the time of charles the vi for this unyon of the church to the which this bishop that fled would not consent nor be confirmable.   

¶ Of other two councils in France the one at lions that other at burges by the commandment of charles the vii all to abolish this said schism.  
AFter the great counsel of constance which was assembled in Almaigne by the advise of sygisemundus/ with the assistance of .v. principal christian nations/ that is to wet germany/ France/ England/ Spain/ & Italy/ for to extyrpe these schisms in the church and to depose three bishops sysmatykes that was Gregory the xii Alexaunder the fifth & Iohn the .23. and after these was Martyne the fifth of that name created bishop at this said council/ with the hole consent of all christendom which council continued four years/ and at this council was condampned the bohemies, herysyes, & confounded & in this time rained the puissant king Charles of France/ which held another council for the sustaining of Pragmatica sanxio this was so Anno 1438.  
¶ Shortly following Anno .1447. began a new discord called the xxiii sisme for the dignity between Eugenius a venetian and felix sometime duke of Savoy/ the which division endured the space of xvi. years/ until Nycolas the vi agen●uoy/ and for this purpose king Charles the seventh assembled a great council at Lions where at was concluded and finished this schism and this was the common voice. Lux fuit in mundocessit/ Felix/ Nicolaio. In this article y● king Charles the seventh preferred his decrees and acts of Pracmatica, sanxio, and after him rained Louis king the eleventh of that name in whose time rained in Rome bishop Pius the twelfth and this Louis/ held another great council at orleans for the maintenance of the Pracmatica sanxio/ wherein Pius bishop was aggrieved.   

¶ Of two counceyllies holden in france the one at towers the other at lions Anno Dni .1510. that lasted two years. ❧ ❧ ❧ ❧  
IT is to be understand that at the last counsel holden at basil, which was Anno .448. that then was the city of Lion named by the said council most profitable and necessary be kept there from ten year to ten years a general counsel and so suceeded king of France after Louis the xi Louis the xii a noble & a wise prince/ which held two counceyls in his time in whose time rained in Rome julius bishop the second/ whose arts of ruin needeth not my pen to write/ for his holy living is manifestly known of a great many now, yet living that hath experience of his cruel acts, thus is finished the second part of this book/ and thus to this the third part I will begin at the later end of this first book which mensioneth of the vii sisme and I will begin this third book with the eight schism & so end & finish this little book as followeth.   

¶ Here beginneth the third book of this process and first of the viii sisme & so proceedeth to the last showing what ini●te & misery befell in the church of rome & in other places.  
THe emperor Louis the gentle king of France, son of charlemayne arose the viii sisme in the church between Eugenius bishop of Rome/ the ii of the name borne in Rome/ & zozinus antipape, which wrought through diverse cardinals great displeasures/ yet was this Eugenius a good man & a wise, & so anon after the taking of Rome by the sarazens/ then followed great evils throghe all the world and specially in france/ wherein the Normans & the frysyans entered first, & exersysed their cruelty, & shortly after, jone the woman bishop of rome borne in england possessed the see of Rome with great slander to the romans and to the see appostolyke.   

¶ Of the ix schism what befell in that tyme.  
Shameful, cruel, & slanderous out of measure was this ix iysme **** & endured long time, which began in the time of Louis the emperor, the stutter, the which occasion was this.  
¶ The bishop Iohn the, viii, in Rome borne, which fled in to france for refuge & succour, the which was a man cruel & nothing piteous but maliciously entreated formosus bishop, & so this formosus for fere and danger of the foresaid Iohn the viii bishop, he fled in to france. But afterward by constraint of excommunications he was enforced to return again to his bishopric at rome, called port roman & afterward was he degraded & deposed, & made a secular priest again to his formal state, & sworn that he should not in nowise return to his bysshoprych. ¶ yet not withstondyng afterward he was absolved by Martin bishop of Rome thee, xii, of the name, & in short time af● the said formosus bought 〈◊〉 papality the which another pretended to 〈…〉 a roman (which could not as at that time obtain it/ yet notwithstanding afterward he obtained his purpose through a conspyrasy/ mortal against the said Formosus/ and so came in to France to king Lothayr/ and thus this said Formosus kept the pontificality of Rome/ five years & a half, in the which time he did nothing worthy to be in memory, but engendered enemies, the which was revenged of him after his death.  
¶ After this Formosus bishop, succeeded Steven the vi of that name, there was but one bishop between them both which was named Boniface the vi borne in Tuskayne/ which rained but .36. days. And so this foresaid Steven the vi. with all his power abolyshshed and condemned all the Decrees and acts of Formosus. And the next bishop that succeeded did clean contrary, and stablished and confirmed them in their own formal estate again/ whose name was Romanus. And in likewise did Theodorus and Iohn the ix bishop/ whereby arose great perturbance and business among the people of Rome/ for cause some held of one party, and some of the other. And so all this hurly-burly was in fault (none) but for lack of good virtuous bishops of Rome, but they were all poisoned. And yet after this succeeded Sergyus afore named that came again out of France, which was worse than any of that other afore him.  
¶ This Sergyus the third bishop of that name, returned again in to Italy, by the aid and succour of king Louis the third, the which Louis deposed Chrystofer bishop the, viii. that after formosus usurped the papality/ the which Chrystofer was infected with schisms that was between lo the .v. of that name and him and so this foresaid Sergius to be avenged of the foresaid formosus, In his fury against all humanity/ caused the body of formosus to be digged out of his grave/ and clothed him again in his pontyfycalibus, & so caused the hangman to smite of his head and so threw his body into the river of Tiber, yet some stories writ that his body was taken up again privily and buried by fisher men.  
¶ This said sergius had a son named johan the ten of that name bishop of rome/ which succeeded him but not directly/ for there were two that possessed the dignity afore him, whose names were Anastas the iii and landolphus. This said johan the ten was lytel better than his forefather sergyus. Not withstanding he was a great warrior & a good man of arms, for he drove the saracens out of Calabre/ by the aid and help of Alberyke marquis of Tuscan/ So in conclusion this wicked Iohn bishop only to have the name and renown of this said victory against the sarazyns caused the men of war of Alberyke to stop his mouth with a cushion/ & so smodred him to death/ this truly was a pitiful case to see the see appostolyke/ so replete with bishops of iniquity as stories of the time doth writ more at large of their ambition, pride, and iniquity, in the which season/ the Hongaryons wrought great vengeauncies/ and dyspleasurs against the church of Rome & the patrimony of the Church/ which was only the just punyssyon of God.   

¶ What befell in the time of the ten and the xi sisme by the power of the emperor Otton the first of the name.  
IOhn the twelfth of the name bishop of Rome/ & also borne there, the which afore was called octavian thorough the puissance & tyranny of his father Alberyk, he used his papality very evil for he was a man of evil life, without chastity/ he companied with women openly without shame/ for the which abomination two cardinals dyscret & wise persons complained unto Otton emperor of germany/ who reigned Anno .962 ye shall understand that the mean season or Otton the Emperor came/ this foresaid Ingnomynyous bishop johan, was advertised of this complaint by the Cardynalles to the Emperou● of him and caused them to be taken, and of the one he caused to cut of his nose, and the other his breasts. And so shortly after king▪ Otton came to Rome and there held a council against the said bishop of Rome. In the which council he was condemned, and deposed for his wicked and cruel life, yet after this just judgement he was taken again in the act of adultery with a man's wife whose husband slew him with the deed doing.  
¶ After the deposytyon of this said johan the, xii. king Otton caused a bishop to be chosen called Leo the eight. And shortly after the absence of Otton the emperor/ The wicked romans, sedytions inconstant, chased this Leo bishop out of Rome, and set up an antipope, who was named, Benedictus/ the .v. for the which cause th'emperor Otton shortly after besieged Rome/ and so what for the war & famine/ the romans were constrained to yield and set the foresaid Leo in his see, and authority and so put to exile their antipape Benedict/ which fled in to almain thus were these two schisms finished afore written.   

¶ Of the xii sisme abolished by Otton the third Emperor.  
BY the authority of the emperor Otton the third Anno dni .993. was created bishop of rome/ gregory y● v. borne in saxonia in almain and so after the departing of the emperor Otton from Rome, a certain senator rich & replete with covetous named Cressensius, set up the bishop of pleasance of the nation of Grece for money, and so this Gregory seeing & dreading the fury of the romans/ and their violence with all fled into Almaigne/ toward the emperor Otton/ who brought him again by strong hand/ though this senator with the greek bishop antypape with Cressencyus by force and strength kept them within the Castle angel/ yet that notwithstanding they were taken/ and Cressencyus was beheaded for his covetous enterprise/ & the antipope had both his eyen put out, and well worthy for his ambitious priesthood.  
¶ Thus was the bishop Gregory restored to his dignity in Rome again/ and he was the first that decreed & made/ ordinances for the elextion of the Empire Anno dni .1002. to the intent that the elextion imperial should always remain & continue among the Princes of Germany, which continueth to this day only but of sufferance, and so after Gregory held the see appostolyke/ Sylvester the second the which was expert in the art Magyque, and Nygromncy, which is a devilish & a damnable science/ the which Gregory died shamefully as stories maketh mension as in the second part of this book it doth partly appear.   

¶ Of the xiii & xiiii schisms in the time of two bishops of Rome/ the one the uncle, the other the Nephew/ in whose time jerusalem was taken by the saracens & of the horrible operations of these two bishops.  
THe knowledge of these divisions and schisms be so confuse & odious that I would they were passed under silence/ notwithstanding he that seeketh for the sweet breers/ must oft-times pass thorough sharp thorns & crowked breers & or we come to the sweat carnel/ we must pass thorough the hard shell/ thus after these things afore resyted I must show unto you the residue as mine author writeth sucsentyfly as I may & can understand. Thus have ye seen that through evil & avaricious bishops of Rome/ was the cause and occasion of all schisms discords, & evils that befell through the world, & in like manner the good meek and crystyan bishops/ was the occasion of peace, unity, & concord, overall christendom▪/ as we have written in the second part of this book.  
¶ Thus after that this foresaid Silvester the second died/ which gave himself to the devil to come unto his said dignity papal/ whom God may save by his merry and grace/ and in so succeeded in the space of xii years/ but three peaceable bishops of Rome/ after this succeeded Benedictus the fifth borne in Tuskay/ which began to enter in much trouble, for when the emperor henry the first of that name was deed/ which was in the year of our Lord .404. which stood in great favour with the said emperor because he did crown him in his see/ which benedictus was cast out by force from his dignity by the romans/ & so they set in another in his place yet notwithstanding Benedictus/ made his agreement with his enemies/ and afterward chasid his enemies out of his place/ and so he was restored to his dignity again/ thus finished the. xii●. schism.  
¶ And as stories doth specefy/ which remaineth that after the death of the said Benedictus/ it was fantasyed that the sprite of the said bishop Benedictus/ the. vii●. appeared unto a bishop in asolytarye place upon a great horrible black horse/ & this bishop demanded him, why & wherefore he road on such a black horse/ he answered because he was in great torments/ & prayed the bishop to take certain treasures that he had hid in diverse places/ where as he showed him where they lay/ & that he should destry buit them to the poor people/ for all the alms I gave in my life time little profytꝭ me because I got my treasure with extor●yon/ & rapine which did as the vision said & af● he forsook the glory of this world & be came a religious man solitary.  
¶ After this benedictus the viii succeeded Benedictus the ix between whom was the bishop Iohn the twenty & this Benedictus the ix was worse than his uncle/ as appeareth for he was the occasion of the xiiii sisme & division in the church of Rome for the romans saw that he was of small reputation, & of little valour deposed him from his dignity, and set up in his place Iohn the archbishop of Sabyn/ which was called Sylvester the third/ & about 49. days after they chased him out also because he was less then and an ydeot, yngnoraunt & unprofitable, but yet ye shall understand he perceiving this/ sold his papasy to Iohn/ for ready money/ who was then a●chedeacō, of saint Iohn port latin/ which afterward was called Gregory the vi for the which slanders & rumour among the Romans then Henry the second of the name son to Conradus that reigned Anno .1039. who came into Italy with a great army puissant, where he assembled a great counsel general/ and so deposed these iii sysmatykes bishops that is to weet/ Benedictus the ix sylvester the third & Gregory the vi & he created bishop of Rome, the bishop of Baynbergh in Almaigne, who was named clement the second/ who was poisoned by his successor Damascus the second of the name also. And thus to come to our purpose of the foresaid Benedictus/ the ix which was the cause of much evil in the xiiii schism/ & sold his papalytye some stories hold this fantasy/ or opinion of him after his death/ was that he appeared in fashion of a strange & wonderful likeness monstrous and horrible/ of whom was demanded the occasion of this wonderful form/ and state might signify/ he made answer that thorough the just judgement of God/ he was thus condemned to be eternally/ for because he lived so bestially in the siege appoholyke, & thus through the ꝑturbations of the wicked bishops, the turks & saracens oppressed so cristendome & lost the holy land with Jerusalem An .1012. the tyme.   

¶ Of the xu schism appeased by the emperor Henry the third.  
THis time rained emperor Henry the third in almain the which was Anno .1057. began the xu sisme and discord in the Church/ the cause hereof was that after the death of besshop Nycolas/ the second borne in Savoy/ was elect the bishop of Luke borne in Myllane, this man was chosen by the Cardynalles of Rome/ & they named him Alexaunder the second/ this bishop had a good & virtuous name where as he was resident/ & after his election the cardinals came to him to accompany his person to Rome.  
¶ And so anon after his coming to Rome/ certain bishops lombardy could nor agree with him/ because he would not of their band and affynyte/ whereupon began the xu schism/ because some held opinion and said that he entered by simony (this pre●●ted) they thought to have one of their affinity meet for their purpose/ through the investigation and council of gylbert bishop of parme in lomba●dye, so these companions cardinals held fast together as burrs in a cluster (and obtayn●d against henry the iii emperor to choose an other bishop of rome in his place to their own purpose and mind. And hereupon the Emperor & they accorded and so these cardinals entered in to Lombardy, where they gedred a council among themselves, whom was consulted to choose one named Cadollus borne in parme, marvelous rich puissant and perilous to the which all Italy were agreed,  
¶ This is cad●llus chosen in the place of the papal see, as an antipope and so in short time drew himself towards rome with a mighty power/ & a great army of lumbardies, against alexander bishop of Rome who was accompanied with a great army of romans in likewise to withstand him/ and inconclusyon this battles encountered, the which was sturdy, strong, & sharp, under the mountain gold/ where as was slain pytefully moche people/ but in fine the victory turned on Alexaunders side/ & so returned Cadollus vanquished/ yet notwithstanding he lost not his courage/ but or it was a year passed/ through secret conspyresyes of some of his affinity/ the which secret company he obtained by many within Rome/ which ran suddenly unto armies, & so by Cincius saneofo the provest of Rome/ conveyed Cadollus in to the castle angel/ and so finally byforce of his enemies he was fain to yield/ and privily bought his life of certain soldiers/ for. vi.c. marks and was horsed & fled & so to please the emperor Henry the .3. which favoured the said Cadollus/ he caused a counsel to be assembled at mantua to the which came the said emperor & Alexaunder bishop of Rome/ and there alexander purged him afore all that noble presence to be clean of the crime of simony/ & of ambition/ and so the one forgave the other of all grudges & thus finished the xu sisme.   

¶ Of the xvi sisme which arose by a bishop of Rome/ a black monk/ which b●gan to lift up his horns, against the power of the emperor, whereof arose great evil & rumur.  
Within a little and short time after the xvi sisme followed much like/ the other/ for after the death of Alexaunder the second succeeded Gregory the 〈◊〉 borne in senys in touskayne by the procurement of the said black monk legal in france/ which in continent after the election began a great discord/ between the bishops of Rome, and the emperor, which engendered great debates & mischievous evils innumerable over all christendom as it shall appear hereafter.  
¶ For in the time that this foresaid emperor was busied/ and had great to do with his wars against the Saxons his enemies, this foresaid gregory bishop of Rome/ which was confirmed by the Emperor/ for at that time no bishop could be in Rome/ without the full consent & confirmation of th'emperor and thus began this Gregory the .7. to sporne with an arrogant mind/ inhybyting th'emperor to meddle with any ecclesiastic authority/ upon pain of the high sensuris and curse of the church of Rome, nether that he should give nor admit bysshoprych, nor benefice within his Empire/ for they made pretense that the Emperor did sell the dignities of the prelacy in his Empire/ the which this arrogant bishop would have the sale of the merchandise himself as other of his predycessours had done in times passed of ancient institutions/ and of right and old customs.  
¶ These things were strange news to th'emperor Henry/ but that time he feigned with a fair countenance/ because of the great business that he had that time in the wars of the saxons/ yet notwithstanding this arrogant bishop left not his purpose but proceeded against him, & sent forth curses and excommunycatyons against certain bishops that held with the emperor/ thus in short conclusion th'emperor had victory of the saxons, and assembled in continent a general council in the city of worms upon the ryne/ and there was concluded, that thorough all his Empire that none so hardy should support any cardinal nor mayteyne court nor consystory that pertained to the see of Rome, nor to any of his assistants, and thus they should forsake them and obey his commandment and iniunceyons in Almaigne.  
¶ Very long & tedious it were to this abbreviation/ to excyte and set forth the wonderful feats of war, with differences & alterations & appoyntementꝭ that were & happened between this gregory the seventh & henry the third emperor of almain, gregori gave out a great curse against th'emperor & his bishops/ and th'emperor created another bishop named Clement afore called gylb●rt archbishop of Raue●na/ & he was created and elected by a council in Germany/ and this bishop Gregory gave his tytyle to the duke of saxon named Radulphus/ but thus in conclusion after four battles foughten/ he was cōuye● and slain by the said emperor Henry the fourth. And after these vyctories & cru●l battles/ this said emperor sent first his son Henry the fourth to Rome to subdue the pride of this arrogant bishop gregory the vii and of his adherences/ and in this time/ was there dame mehault countess of Mantua/ which was an Appostasa/ an ypocryte/ sturdy/ and ha●dy/ more than became any woman/ which resisted th'emperor in the bishop of Rome's cause/ which was also overcome 〈◊〉 slain, and thus this foresaid emperor came to Rome byforce/ & he brought with him clement his antipope/ & there consecrated him & was intronysed or crowned/ & so the bishop Gregory y● .7. which was the very occasion of all this mischief & evil was besieged & afterward escaped by the hands of Guyschard the normande prince of poylle/ which conveyed him/ yet notwithstanding he lived not long after (for dolour & sorrow) and this gregory was he that made many new & strange constitutions, he ordained that prestis should have no wives, & that they & their wives should not dwell together, & that no man should here the mass of h● y● held or keep a concubine, & he ordained that no person should eat flesh on ymber days, & also that none should ere flesh on the saturdays, & troth to say this Gregory was to arrogant & rigorous as stories writeth, thus by the death of gregory y● .7. the 16. sisme was almost abolished but not all hole, for his successor named victor the iii abbot of the mount cassyn would gladly have sustained the same opinions which his predycessour held against the emperor but he was soon constrained to the contrary which died other by privy sickness or by poison/ & after him succeeded urbanus the second which meddled nor enterprised little of these foresaid matters, and so this man came in to france, where was holden a great council general at cleremount in auernia, wherein he moved all Christendom to have war/ against the infidels and to recover jerusalem with the holy land/ by whose motion was gathered universally through all christendom the greatest army that ever went in to the holy land/ and godfray de bullion was the chief captain thereof as apperethin the second part of this book.   

¶ Of the .17. schism which arose by certain quarrels that the bishops of Rome moved against the emperors.  
PAscal the second of his name borne in tuskane was no less than a disciple of Gregory the .7. which succeeded urban the .2. yet he did no less than his predycessours did/ for he began his quarrel against the emperor supporting the papal dignity/ so this matter hanging Godfroy de bullion with all other christian princes held strong war & battles against the sarazens in surrey, in the which time they conquered Antioch and jerusalem Anno d●i .1099. which was .492. years after the saracens won it first in the time of Heracle emperor.  
¶ After this the foresaid pascal some what high minded holding high countenance against Henry the fourth of that name emperor, he sent his army against gilbert/ called Clement antipape elect in Almaigne by th'emperor henry the third and this army was well enforced and strengthened by Roger le Normande Prince of Sycyl/ which sent him many men of armies, & also a thousand ouncies of gold to maintain his soldiers with all thus was this antipape for lack of help constrained to i'll the city that he lay in, & fled to save himself into the hands of richard de champagne of Napl●s, and so after in short time he died for sorrow and displeasure. This Richard Earl of champagne in Naples, which favoured this said antipope gylbert called Clement, he set up an other antipope named al●ertus, borne beside Naples, which within short time was deposed/ and the inhabitants of Rome/ chose another whose name was Theodorus, the which within a houndred and .v. days revoked his authority & became an hermit and so the third was chosen called maginus, a cytazyne of Rome/ which took the title and authority of the bishop of rome at Ravenna/ which was afterward over thrown by the romans.  
¶ And after all these things yet the foresaid Pascal bishop the second of that name recovered certain lands of the church of Rome/ byforce of armies and so he came into France to reform the church.  
❧ ❧ ☞ ☞ ❧ ❧  
¶ Into France came this said Pascal the second in the time of king phyllyp the first, and gathered a council attroy in champagne/ & it appeareth in the second part of this book/ for the reformation of the church/ and so after this said council he returned towards Rome/ whereas Henry the fourth was come afore him/ to be crowned emperor/ where as this emperor took prisoner this said bishop Pascal/ and all his cardinals, prelate's, & curtasans/ and so set them at liberty again/ when he had recovered his right and title/ that was taken from his predycessours for admitting/ the free election of bishops of Rome/ & the first fruits universal of the bishops and prelate's and benefysed men/ to be at the emperors pleasure, as his right & title was and after the emperors departing they revoked all that they granted/ & thus was business new to begin again.   

¶ Of the xviii schism  
THe xviii sisme began between Gelasius the second bishop of Rome, borne in Gaiectan, successor of the said Pascal the second/ & another antypape called Benedictus a spanyard elected by Henry the fourth because of his title of elecctions investures of the spirituality, so this said Gelasius came in to france/ and died at Clugny/ & in his place was chosen bishop of rome calixtus the second archbishop of Uyenne in Dolphyne/ & thus Benedictus afore named antipope, which held himself strong in Italy in the spite of the said Gelasius bishop/ and Calixtus his successor did in likewise withstand Gelasius to his power but shortly in conclusion he was vanquished in plain battle/ and taken by the aid of the french men/ and the captain of them/ as the cardinal of sen● Grisigone/ & so set this Benedictus upon a camel & trussed his visage/ towards the camylles tail, and so was led to rome in dispyt tryumphauntly with shame, thus finished the .18. schism.   

¶ Of the xix sisme.  
THus after the death of Calixtus of Burgony/ Honorius the second of that name borne in Ymola in Italy succeeded the papasy/ the which kept it peaceably the term of .v. years and died/ and after him succeeded Innocent the second of the name borne in Rome/ in whose time began the xix sisme, & the occasion there ●f was for raising wars against Roger le Normande/ which was called king of naples/ which withstood him with all his power/ & so between them both was moche murder & blood shed on both parties, but in conclusion this said bishop innocent was vanquished in battle reigned▪ & taken prisoner by William duke of Calaber/ son to the said roger king of Naples, & yet was he honestly entreated, & afterward delivered. ¶ And so in the mean season that this Innocent the second the foresaid bishop was prisoner/ the romans chose another called Peter of Lion son of a mighty rich cetezyn of Rome/ and he was called Anacletus, for the which election/ Innocent was enforced to go into France for socours/ and at Cleremonde assembled the second council/ and another at reins in champagne in the time of king Louis le gross/ and from thence he came to Lyege/ where as he found the king of romans Lothayre the second of that name, who promised him assistance with all his power/ & thus what by the help of th'emperor Lothayr and the french men, he returned the second time into Italy, with great power, which was Anno dni. 113●. & thus was Innocent restored to his papacy again, and Anacletus the antipape was deposed, and spoiled of all his treasure and reliqus of the Church to pay the soldiers withal, wherefore he died for sorrow and despite.  
¶ In certain time after the bishop eugeny the third of the name borne in pysa and afore a monk of saint Barnardes', one of his disciples/ which came in to France for two purposes, the one was for the Ingeries and dyspleasurs of the romans, the other was to monish the king Louis to move war upon the turks in the holy Land/ as it is more plain in the second party of this book & gathered a council at vezelay, after the which time he returned to rome again peaceable with the help of the king Louis.   

¶ Of the twenty sisme which was in y● tym● of th'emperor frederic the first of his name, called Barbarousse & this sisme endured xvii years.  
Even of the same root & presydence that afore time hath grown/ that is to say for covetise/ which always rained in the see appostolyk/ such like causes engendered this twenty sisme/ that is to wit only/ for admitting the clergy in to benefices and possessions/ & who should have the first fruits/ which began in the time of Frederyke barbarousse Emperor/ which was a marvelous man & prince of slaveny/ who married in the countess of Bourgonye/ and because he had perc●yueraunce & knowledge what ingeris and displeasures, his pre●●ss●ssours had in time passed with the bishops of Rome by violence and unjust cause/ he conceived so greatyre, and displeasurs/ against them, for it that he scourged them in such wise that there was never sen● so great division between the Empire and the bishops of Rome/ in somuch that the consequence was yet well worse that followed/ for in the beginning of the reign of this said Emperor, which began to reign Anno .1154. this sisme was begun between alexander the .3. borne in senis, chosen and elect by the soveraunce of xxiii cardinals/ & an other named octavian a roman/ which was chosen by .3. cardinals special and named him victor.  
¶ So this Alexaunder thinking to have good right/ made a friend by an enbassetou● unto the emperor frederic barbarous which as the time lay siege afore the city of Cremona in lombary/ and that he should set adirexion among these a●●ypapes, the which Emperor to set a v●yte and concord commanded them both to meet with him at pay●ie, & there he would meet with them/ unto the which Alexsander would not consent, for the which cause he absented himself th●s & so incontinent frederyke without authority assembled a counsel at pauye, where the said octavian was present, & there was decreed that he should posesse the see appostolyke & was confirmed ma●g●e the will of alexander the third. And in these causes the said Alexsaunder excommunicated th'emperor frederik barbarous, & so frederike took up the patrimony & profits of saint Peter/ otherwise called the profits of the church, for the which cause this alexander fled from rome into france, in the time of phylip augustus, & there assembled the third council at cleremound in auernia as we have expressed in the second part of this book, in the which council Alexander the third named by victor antipope, excomunycated octavian emperor, & in this time the emperor discomfited milan & dertome, because they were rebellyons, & after sent an enbassade● to king phylyp to find the mean to destroy this schism then in the church.  
¶ The place of this appointment was consented to be at dygyon in burgoyne/ which was indifferent for both princes/ for the emperor frederik lay on the borders of burgoyne which came thither with a noble company with his queen & the king of boheme & with the king of scots & their antipope with them named victor with a great number of men of war with them yet would not Alexander come there saying y●/y● place was not indifferent for his person nor yet convenient to keep such a council which only pertained to his authority/ wherefore this unworthy Emperor with his antipope full of ire & thretnyngꝭ/ returned into Almaigne with great displeasure & so when the foresaid antipape was deed/ there was created three antipapes successively one after the other, & by this mean Alexsaunder was fain to fly out of rome to Uenyse in a strange habit, & in all this time was war thorough all Christendom & all by the occasion of these schisms and errors that arose by these antipapes, & stubborn bishops of Rome/ & finably the city of jerusalem was lost again in this season & won by the turks, and saracens, also the said Emperor made that time a great viage in to Turkey/ & a prosperous, & victorious, unto his death the which was great pity/ for he was drowned in bathting himself in a river/ which was a great desolation to all his army/ and a discomfort to all christendom so soudayne a chance.   

¶ Of the xxi schism/ which was in the time that the court and see of Rome was holden at Auynyon.  
CLement bishop the .v. of that name borne in burgony was the first that mo●ed the see of Rome to Avignon, as I have wrythe plain in the second part of this book/ and after the death of him, the see of Rome/ stood vacant the space of two years/ three months, & xvii days. For because the cardinals could not agree at that elextion and council of carpentras/ in so much that they fell together and fought/ in the which arroure was slain two of the chefyste Cardynalles/ and this hurl burley, in short time after they gathered a council at lion, and they held their conclave within the black freres called our lady of comfort, where as they concluded to have Iohn the xxii of the name borne in Cavors Anno dni. 131●. and some writers say that he was chosen by king Louis, and phylyp his brother kings of France/ and his brother county of poyeters.  
¶ After the coronation of the said Iohn the xxii of the name, he kept his residence in Auynyon, and for his first act he exercised a marvelous justice/ against Hew bishop of caours/ the which bishop was taken with a conspyrasy/ against the bishop of Rome/ Iohn xxii for the which he was degraded/ and delivered to the hangman/ and cruelly put to death so in this mean season Louis de bauaria king of romans over came in battle duke frederic of Ostrich, which took upon him because he had the corone of milan he would usurp th'empire of Rome without authority/ against the which Iohn bishop aforesaid/ withstood with great indignation/ with diverse censuries & curses against the said king of bauaria, which was called nycolas the .v. which caused the xxi schism which seized not unto the boniface count de Pisa took prisoner this said antipape/ the which raised a great decyme thorough all the church of France under colour to go against the sarazens with a hole cross, for the which was money gathered & he did pretend nothing less/ & in this xxi schism among the valdays and the commons of Lion/ arose and engendered many great heresies.   

¶ Of the two and twenty sisme longest incontynuaunce/ and most slanderous among all other/ for through it/ the land of Boheme became full of heresies. ❧ ❧ ☞ ☞ ❧ ❧  
THis xxii sisme continued forty years/ in the which season was many bishops of rome one against another/ which was so obscure and crafty that all the clergy in christendom were troubled therewith/ to judge to whom pertained the right and just title & who should possess the just patrimony of saint peter/ called these appostolyke/ some said the one/ & some opinion of the other, by the which division the bohemes fell in great decay and heresies/ as than it was taken and called because partly it pretendid against the usurped maiesti of the bishops of rome and against their filthy deceitful c●uy●ousnesse invented for their own lucre for money/ and pilled and rob all the world many years/ & clean against all god's law and holy scripture/ as now it is evidently perceived, that the light is at his liberty, and not darkened as it was then, and these be the here syes that the Bohemes held as then, was that the bishop of Rome/ was a bishop of no higher pre-eminence/ then other bishops be/ each for his particular dyoses/ also they held that there was no purgatory to be remitted by their power/ also that it was vain and unprofitable to pray for souls once passed this life, but held opinion that it was a profit invented by the covetousness of Preestes only for lucre/ also the images of Chryst and of saints, were not to be worshipped nor to stand in sight, for it was idolatry/ and also that all the orders of F●eres beggars was not of God/ but invented by the devils craft/ also that no priest nor bishop should possess no temporalytes neither in authority nor in jurisdiction/ these were great heresies/ as the time required, as now many may have experience.  
¶ And so to proceed & come to our purpose of the xxii schism/ it began the year of our Lord a .1378. that was anon after the court of Rome/ was removed from avynion to Rome again, by the mean of bishop Gregory the eleventh of that name borne in Limogis/ as I have written more plainly in the second part of this book/ where as I wrote of two councils holden at Paris/ in the time of king Charles the sixth.  
¶ Thus that I may come directly/ and follow the courses of these schisms/ Ye shall understand that in the year above written/ the xxii sisme began in the time of Gregory the xi the which removed the ●ee appostolyke from Auynion unto rome, then at the time the cardinals were divided in two bandies, or parties, & so the cardinals of Italy set up Urban the vi borne in naples/ and the French cardinals, set up Robert of Geneva/ who was called Clement the vii and he kept his see in avignion because of this schism, thus all cristendome was divided in two parties by the wilfulness of these two monstrous Antypapes/ being a strange sight as it were a man to have two heads/ and so this schism infected the orient parts of Italy, Almaigne, Hungory, which gave obedience to Urban the vi on the other part France, spain, England, held with Clement the vii which was the occident part.  
¶ In the time of this great division/ Louis duke de aungeoy, which favoured bishop Clement the vii which held his auc●orite in auynyon, and so entered into Italy with xxxi thousand horse men of arms/ party for the Realm of Naples, and also to succour queen jone against king Charles of Hungry, as well as for the difference that was between the two bishops aforesaid antypapes, & to th'end to give clement the hole authority, but in conclusion, this said duke of aungeoy son of king Iohn that was prisoner in England fell sick and died within the space of two years in the land of polonya, afore he had finished his said wars, for the which this said french men departed thence into france again, & this foresaid bishop Urban, yet could not live in peace with Charles king of Hungry and of naples, but was constraint to flee out of Rome, to Gennes by see where as in the passage he caused to be drowned .v. cardinals/ which were great friends of this said clement in auynyon, & did favour him greatly, & thus this foresaid queen jone sold Avinion & the county of venyse, unto Clement the vii but some stories writ that they changed for the tribuit, which the realm of naples aught to the church of rome.  
¶ For to return & write yet further of bishop Urban the vi & of the xxii schism ye shall understand that this said bishop as stories do wryt was/ a very perverse man, the which took great pleasure to sow dissensions/ and debates among christian princes sooner & raither then to set peace, unite, and concord, the which dyscordies and debaytes were not appeased long after his death/ and thus long endured this schism/ and so in his place was chosen Boniface the ix, borne in Naples/ the which was not above .30. years of ●ege, and this bishop boniface was he that usurped, and took the authority from the romans/ & so transported it/ & brought it to the set of the bishops of Rome/ and so fortified the castle angel against the romans/ also this boniface began to raise the exactions upon the 〈◊〉/ for all benefycies thorough all christendom (only except the realm of England) and in his time was the gerat jubelee universal.  
¶ So on the other part after the death of ●lement the vii was chosen another bishop antipope at Auynyon/ by the consent of the cardinals of France called the bishop of the moan/ after named benedictus the xiii against whom was holden a council in France as it is written in the second part of this/ the which enforced and enlarged this schism the which percevered and continued unto the council of constance during/ the which time this said benedictus of the moan supported his obstinate pleasure, and so continued in his wilfulness unto the end of his life.  
¶ Thus when Boniface the ix was deed in Rome afore written/ the cardinals of Italy chose another bssshop of Rome called Cosmian of peruse, who was named in the see of Rome Innocent the seven. and after him succeeded gregory the xii. a venetian, sometime called Angelus be corario/ thus worse and worse was the sisme, for yet all this while rained in auynyon Benedictus of the moan/ which held his full authority as an antipape unto whom came as enbassatoure/ the duke of burgonye and of berry and orly●unce/ from king Charles the vi the which king desired this bishop of the moan/ to be persuaded from certain points/ the which he usurped, and that he might be set in his right & just authority/ & also that the bishop Gregory the xii his fellow should do in likewise, unto the which this bishop of the moan would make no answer/ but fled secretly into spain for fere of losing of his dignity and so the barons returned with displeasure without answer/ & there this bishop held a council at perpignan/ and there held him sure in a strong castle/ called Paniscolle.  
¶ Thus when the christian princes/ and cardinals saw that none accord nor appointment could come to pass/ between these two/ papists bishops of the see of Rome/ but contention & strife, and that none would come to the right/ though they had promised it afore/ so then was there gathered and assembled another general council at Pysa in Italy the year of grace of our lord .1408.  
¶ In the which counsel was a syted personally to appear/ both the papists bishops solemnly according to their estate yet for all this they little regarded this appearance, but held it as a scorn indyrysion/ the one as well as that other/ for the which they were both deprived and deposed, & in their places chosen Alexsander the vi borne in the isle of Candye/ a frere minor/ the which lived not after full .v. months/ and died in bollone le grass/ and after his time gregory the xii. which held him in Austrych, yet notwithstanding he thought not himself there not in surety/ but he returned again into italy, & there held him in the city of Armyne under the protection, of a baron named charles the evil heeded.  
¶ In this time all the possessors of the church of Rome were ready in an uproar and in armies towards battle/ for this Alexsaunder the .v. which had friends as the king of Naples/ with diverse other so this alexsaunder lived not long/ but after him was choose bishop a cardinal of naples named Balthasar ●ossa/ which was afterward entituled/ Iohn the xxiii. and so in this time was in christendom iii antipapes/ the one at Bollon●● grass/ the other in Armyne/ the iii in the castle of Panyscole in Spain/ yet notwithstanding for the deposition of these two bishops at the council that is to say of Gregory the xii & the foresaid Bene●ict of the moan/ all christian nations consented unto/ except some of Spain and the ●ynge of Scots, the which favoured the said Benedictus of the moan.  
¶ And thus after this foresaid council which was gathered against Gregory the xii which came not personally/ to this council/ but sent his debytes' duke les evil headed/ lord of Armyne with other procurators/ and so contented to resign the right and just title/ that he held from th'emperor/ & yielded up his dignity papal in Rome/ and put it into the hands of the council/ and so finably he was there created legate/ and marquis de Ancona where he died not long after for sorrow.  
¶ Thus was these two stubborn antypapes consumed/ so yet resteth the third idol and antypape/ that is to wite Benedictus the xiii surnamed the bishop of the Moon/ the which put this said good emperor Sigismundus to much unquietness and pain/ for after the foresaid idols antypapes were deposed/ and that this of the moan would not come to no appointment nor concord/ by no persuasion, than this said Sigismundus th'emperor went personally to the King of England/ and so returned by the king of France/ & all this was to set unite in the christian church & concord whereof he had good answers, & from thence went to Narbone to Fardinandus king of Arragon/ for the same cause, all this was to persuade the stiff obstinacy of the bishop antypape of the moon, the which fury could not be overcome by no manner of ways & thus this said emperor returned again to the council of constance, where as he deprived and deposed the said evil bishop of the moan, and so was there chosen by the consent of all Christendom, bishop Martyne the fifth of the noble house of collonyois, a man esteemed of singular virtue and prudent moderate & just Anno domini, M. cccc. and xvi, and thus came peace in to the church and so ended this xxii cursed schism.  
¶ This bishop of the moan incontinent after he was deposed by a hole general councey●● and deprived of his papality, And so saying that all his friends were constrained to forsake him, thus in conclusion he died in his obstinacy in the castle of panyscoll, And in his restament charged his Cardynalles to choose an other idol antypape in that place, to succeed him/ named clement the viii borne in barfylonne, and as the story saith he lyted rejoiced of his dignity/ for the foresaid bishop Martyne the fifth held and kept the see/ & authority papal honourably/ for all christian princes and dukes held with him as they had chosen him at Constau●ce/ and so finably this Clement the eight gave up his dignity/ and became bishop of Majors.   

¶ Of the three and twenty schism.  
between Felix the fifth and Eugenius the fourth/ followed the three and twenty schism/ and this said Eugeniꝭ had great pleasures in wars/ he was a venecyan borne/ as Platina historial writeth of his life, which propriety is very strange among meek & good bishops, for in his wars he syted the dolphin of France, which afterward was Louis the eleventh king of France of that name, that he should come with a great company of men of arms to raise and trouble the council of basil against Felix his adversary, that was chosen by the said council whose name was Ame duke of Savoy sometime an holy hermit/ and thus shortly to conclude this xxiii schism that which was between Felix & eugenie which continued xvi years till the death of of eugenius/ whom succeeded N●colas the .v. borne in the town of sarasanne/ in the lordship of luke son to a physytien who was choose Anno .1447. and at this time the church was in division in three parties for the one allowed Eugenius/ and the other Felix/ and some neither of both and were not content with the one nor with the other/ and inconclusyon it was determined by th'emperor Fredericus the iii that felix of savoy should be constrained to give his dignity & profit to the said Nicolas/ and this felix was content to be come cardinal/ and Lega● appostolyke over all countries to see peace and unite universal/ and thus endeth the xxiii schism/ and yet notwithstanding all decrees and acts/ which the said Felix did in his papality/ was confirmed to be good/ & so died in good estimation and holiness. etc.   

¶ Of the xxiiii schism/ which contyneweth to this day as we have had, and have experience of.  
ANd so briefly to proceed/ and conclude/ the xxiiii schism began in calixtus days whereof I make no mention/ because mine author leaveth there at the xxiii. ●●sme as he then having no delight nor pleasure to write thereof, because the abuses and abominable vices/ & enormities be to tedius to writ/ specially of the arrogant abominations, sysm●s, battles, blood sheds, luxury, simony, buggeries, treasons, poisons, with in numerable vices, to much abhorring all civil living, and urbanyte/ what shall I say there is so many now lyu●ng that which have experience of the ly●e & acts of some of these antecristyans' bishops of Rome following, & specyal●y julius the second, that I can writ no more of pope holy living & ypocrytall deceit and dissimulation and extorsion and so to proceed.  
¶ After Nycolas rained Calixtus the third/ who rained iii years. Anno dni .1455. then rained in england Henry the sixth crowned in France.  
¶ After him rained Pius the second. Anno dni .1458. in Henry the vi tyme.  
¶ After Pius rained Paulus the second/ who rained vii years. Anno dni .1464. in whose time reigned in France Louis the eleventh afore written and king Edward the fourth in England.  
¶ After Pius rained sixtus the fourth/ thurtyne years/ then rained Edward the fourth in England. Anno dni .1471.  
¶ After Pius rained Innocentius the eight who rained viii years. Anno dni 1435. then rained Richard the third in England/ in whose time was great waters in Rome/ & great famine through all out eutopa, & great pestilence followed.  
¶ After Innocentius Alexander the vi who rained xii years. Anno dni. ●492. Then rained king henry the vii of England.  
¶ After Alexander rained Pius the. iii.xxx. days/ and julius the second succeeded him which was a great warryar and in all his time was no peace through all christendom/ but through his malicious mind was all christendom in war/ battle/ and stryffe/ with shedding of christian men's blood to pitiful/ and lived an excecrable life/ both afore god & man he rained ten years Anno dni 1543. then rained king Henry the seventh.  
¶ After this julius rained Leo the ten & he rained ix years. Anno dni .1513. in the v. year of king henry the viii & in his time began Luter to writ Anno 1517.  
¶ After lo rained Adrianus de traiecto who rained one year and .1522. the xiiii year of king Henry the eight.  
¶ And after him rained Clement the .7. Anno. M. ccccc.xxii. who rained xiii years in the time of king Henry the viii  
¶ And after him Paulus the third Anno. M. ccccc.xxxv. & this Paulus was the cc.xxi bishop of Rome, in whose time now largely appeareth the xxiiii schism which long hath endured, and yet more largely shall appear to the high honour of God/ and to the great tranquillity of all christian regions/ for the which let us all give laudes and prayer to god, that antichrist may be known apparently in his own nature and kind in the ●yes & hearts of all christian people/ and that he may be utterly confounded with all his assistance and adherentes traditions & sects, thus fynysheth this little abbrevyatyon, & followeth the conclusion of the auctor.   

¶ Here followeth the conclusion of this book.  
IT is to be understand that things concerning prophesies and things to come, we have no certain determynatyons nor yet just judgements of, as concerning the verity and truth, yet it is written that the world according to scriptures shall finish by fire elymentall. Also it is written in scripture/ as the appocalypsis witnesseth, that afore that time antichrist shall apere afore all people and shall be known, & after the antichrist openly known/ shall the great and horrible schism appear/ the twenty & four that which so long hath been hyddyn afore the people/ for the which crystyens kings and princes shall be in enforced/ and constrained to set to their power to resist/ & to s●t reformation in the church catholic universal, as it hath been revelated by inspirations & revelations divine/ as appeareth by the apostles/ prophets/ sybylles/ saints/ ancient astronomyers, & metamatisians', whose inspyrations hath set forth a great part of the coming of such like things.  
¶ Yet notwithstanding all such prophesies and pronostycations/ as hath been written/ yet remaineth stories and writings of diverse and of many other holy persons divine/ which had revelations/ as these auctors following boccase/ saint vincent/ de valentia/ abbot joachim of calabre/ raymundus lullius revelations of saint Brigit beside certain pagans/ which I make no mention of/ yet notwithstanding I would the no person should obstinately stand fa●te in any like prophecies and sayings as an ar●icle of scripture nor to give faith there unto none otherwise/ then the catholic church will it admit/ and so a● all such sentensyes' written and set forth in latin/ to the intent that all people may perceive of whence they be & of whom and so followeth now the hole substance of all things/ that is afore written penned and declared by the most noble orator master Alayn charter/ which wrytcth this sentensyes' word ●or word in the end of his book called L●xil, whereof I do translate but a part which is expedient/ and serveth for this tyme.  
☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ❧ ❧  
¶ In old times past was decreed in the latin church now called Rome as concerning the sacreed ordinance of maryege with the dignity of priesthood, which▪ was pretended under the colour of cleanness & chastity without spot, yet notwithstanding now is allowed the statute of concubynage/ which is clean contrary against all statutis decreed by god's laws or of clean living/ but rather following all sensualy●e & bodily lusts & pleasuris/ & it is to be judged that the makers of such statutes or decrees were more apt unto auspice and covetousness through the procuration of simony with diverse other vn●efull ways stryfull with process corrupt as by benefices prelations spiritual/ which are defiled & spotted with worldly cures business temporal/ & thus largely writeth stories of the greek church and the latin also as concerning the ambylyon and dishordinaunces of priests & religious persons/ and men of the clergy/ which was only the cause of the separation of the people of boheme, and also of other nations of the churches of Rome/ what shall I mean of Boheme/ none other than all christian regions/ for the prelate's of the church with their adherentes hath so abominably & fylthily enfected not only themselves or their estate, but all christendom/ that they have given occasion to be disdained of all christian people/ both great and small/ and to be holden as strangers dishobedyent to the holy catholic church of christ through the baroynesse/ who were clean destitute of their dyewty of cle●e & holy ministration & living/ & have set fur●h & used all unlawful traditions & vain lu●uryous werkis of ba●dry and for● cac●on/ I may not writ so large with my 〈◊〉 as I culde/ only for to utter to much their abomination for man's ears to hear or iyes to read.  
¶ And if I should say all that I think I should say plainly the excess and fatness of the goods temporal meddled with the hot sulfur of envy/ with the heat of ambition and lechery/ hath made them ready to put the fire into the Church/ but this matter is of to deep investigacyon/ and the determinations doubtful, though there be experience and proof thereof enough / so with this I hold my peace/ but yet I pray unto him, which consecrated our mother the holy church with his blood (that which I do think follow not) pity hath caused me to writ this, wherefore pray we all to god, that all christian princes may perceive their dyewty regal/ & to set forth god's word prosperiously universal according to gods will/ and to reform all such enormities & schisms/ which antichrist hath deceived us by which we may avoid to the high honour of God and tranquyl light of all christian regions. Amen. ❧ ❧ ☞ ☞ ❧ ❧   

¶ The tenor of the Kings privilege.  
HEnry by the Grace of God/ King of England and of France/ defensor of the faith/ lord of Irland/ supreme heed under christ over the catholic church of England. To all manner of people exercising the art of printing we give greeting and to understand/ that we have only granted and licensed unto Iohn gowgh citizens and stacyoner of London/ that he only to print under our privilege all manner of books new begun translated or compiled by the said Iohn gowgh▪ & all such as he doth cause to be translated and printed by his procurement cost or charge/ we grant licence & auctoryse to the said Iohn gowgh his assigne●s & factors to print all such stories new begun lawful and not prohibited/ so that all such stories or books/ be perused & overseen by our counsel or by such as we shall admit/ we grant to the said Iohn gowgh the making printing, and utterance of all such books, new set forth to his own advantage for the space of vii years immediately ensuing the printing and setting forth of all such books or process new begun/ and not afore printed/ and thus during the time afore limited that in onywyse no person using the science of printing/ or not using do by any manner of craft or delay print with in this our/ Realm or cause to be printed elsewhere no such books/ but that the foresaid Iohn gowgh have the only advantage according to 〈◊〉 of this our foresaid license and pleas●t (to him only granted) upon pain of forfeiture of all such books contrary imprinted to the effect of this our license/ commanding therefore all subjects▪ officers/ and ministers/ to aid and favourably assist the said Iohn gowgh in the executing of this our license and authority if need require.  
¶ God save the king.   

¶ Cum privilegio regali ad solum imprimendum ꝑ septiennium.  
¶ Inprynted by me Iohn gowgh dwelling in Lombard street/ against the st●ckes market at the sign of the mermaid Anno dni. M. ccccc.xxxix.